SEC record prediction: Will Kentucky basketball survive brutal conference schedule?

Posted by Admin December 29, 2024 Basketball

Kentucky has a massive chance to get a number 1 seed, or fall out of the NCAA tournament facing a brutal SEC schedule. In recent seasons, the Kentucky Wildcats have shown been up and down with varied performances in SEC play:

2021: 8-9
2022: 14-4
2023: 12-6

Under new head coach Mark Pope, the Wildcats aim to surpass these records in the 2024-2025 season. Kentucky holds a 10-2 overall record and is ranked 10th in the AP Poll, even after a disastrous 20 point loss to Ohio State in Madison Square Garden. With an offense averaging 89 points a game, the Cats can get hot and run anyone out of the building. However, they have had too many cold shooting nights of late like in the Ohio State game, or Clemson loss.

The SEC is exceptionally competitive this season, with a combined non-conference record of 171-21, indicating the incredible strength of Kentucky’s opponents this season. Maintaining a consistent shooting performance will be key in many of these games. Can the Cats out perform last years 12-6?

January 4 – Florida (Rupp Arena)- Win

January 7/8 – at Georgia (Stegeman Coliseum)- Loss

Jan. 11 at Mississippi State (Humphrey Coliseum)- Loss

January 14/15 – Texas A&M (Rupp Arena)- Win

January 18 – Alabama (Rupp Arena)- Win

January 25 – at Vanderbilt (Memorial Gymnasium)- Win

January 28 – at Tennessee (Thompson-Boling Arena)- Loss

February 1 – Arkansas (Rupp Arena)- Win

February 4/5 – at Ole Miss (Pavilion at Ole Miss)- Win

February 8 – South Carolina (Rupp Arena)- Win

February 11/12 – Tennessee (Rupp Arena)- Win

February 15 – at Texas (Moody Center)- WIn

February 18/19 – Vanderbilt (Rupp Arena)- Win

February 22 – at Alabama (Coleman Coliseum)- Loss

February 25/26 – at Oklahoma (Lloyd Noble Center)- Loss

March 1 – Auburn (Rupp Arena)- Loss

March 4/5 – LSU (Rupp Arena)- Win

March 8 – at Missouri (Mizzou Arena)- Win

We predict a final record to match last season’s 12-6. That would be good enough for a 22-8 overall record and probably good enough for a top 4 seed in the NCAA tourney. The SEC is brutal, and every game should be a close contest, and they could go either way. Buckle up for a wild ride.